Substance profile
Benzo[a]pyrene
Benzo[a]pyrene is pale yellow monoclinic needles from benzene and methanol with a faint aromatic odor.
01 · Identification
What Benzo[a]pyrene is
Benzo[a]pyrene is pale yellow monoclinic needles from benzene and methanol with a faint aromatic odor. Its molecular formula is C20H12 and its molecular weight is 252.3 g/mol. It boils at 475 °C, melts at 179 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Benzo[a]pyrene identifiers and molecular data
Benzo[a]pyrene CAS number and EC number
Benzo[a]pyrene molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Benzo[a]pyrene
- benzo[def]chrysene
03 · GHS classification
Benzo[a]pyrene hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Benzo[a]pyrene pictograms and signal word
Benzo[a]pyrene hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Germ cell mutagenicity GHS chapter 3.5 | Category 1A or 1B | H340 | GHS08 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 1A or 1B | H350 | GHS08 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Benzo[a]pyrene hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H340 | May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H360FD | May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Benzo[a]pyrene. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Benzo[a]pyrene
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Benzo[a]pyrene issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Benzo[a]pyrene precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 10 precautionary statements to Benzo[a]pyrene. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Benzo[a]pyrene name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | бензо[ a ]пирен бензо[ def ]хризен |
| Spanish español | Benzo[ a ]pireno benzo[ def ]criseno |
| Czech čeština | benzo[ a ]pyren |
| Danish dansk | benzo[ a ]pyren benzo[ def ]chrysen |
| German Deutsch | Benzo[ a ]pyren Benzo[ def ]chrysen |
| Estonian eesti | benso[ a ]püreen benso[ def ]krüseen |
| Greek ελληνικά | βενζο[ a ]πυρένιο βενζο[ def ]χρυσένιο |
| English English | benzo[ a ]pyrene benzo[ def ]chrysene |
| French français | benzo[ a ]pyrène benzo[ def ]chrysène |
| Croatian hrvatski | benzo[ a ]piren benzo[ def ]krizen |
| Italian italiano | benzo[ a ]pirene benzo[ def ]crisene |
| Latvian latviešu | benzo[ a ]pirēns benzo[ def ]hrizēns |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | benz[ a ]pirenas benz[ def ]chrizenas |
| Hungarian magyar | benzo[ a ]pirén benzo[ def ]krizén |
| Maltese Malti | benżo[ a ]piren benżo[ def ]krisen |
| Dutch Nederlands | benzo[ a ]pyreen benzo[ def ]chryseen |
| Polish polski | benzo[a]piren benzo[d, e,f]chryzen |
| Portuguese português | benzo[ a ]pireno benzo[ d , e , f ]criseno |
| Romanian română | benzo[ a ]piren benzo[ def ]crisen |
| Slovak slovenčina | benzo[ a ]pyrén benzo[ def ]chryzén |
| Slovenian slovenščina | benzo[ a ]piren benzo[ def ]krizen |
| Finnish suomi | bentso[ def ]kryseeni bentso[ a ]pyreeni |
| Swedish svenska | benso[ a ]pyren benso[ def ]krysen |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Benzo[a]pyrene GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Benzo[a]pyrene, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Benzo[a]pyrene
- May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Get medical advice/attention.
- If skin irritation or rash occurs:
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Benzo[a]pyrene in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Benzo[a]pyrene health hazards and exposure limits
Benzo[a]pyrene hazard summary
Benzo(a)pyrene is a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure as occurs in aluminum production and coal gasification, two processes which are carcinogenic to humans (urinary bladder and lung). Exposure to soot in chimney sweeping is a known human carcinogen; Other occupational exposures to PAHs classified as Group 1 are coke production, coal-tar distillation, paving and roofing with coal-tar pitch. [Reference #1] Reason for exclusion from occupational carcinogens: Group 1 classification based on mechanistic upgrade. [PMID 29769352] See POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS. See Soots, Coal tar pitch volatiles, Coke oven emissions, and Shale oils.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Benzo[a]pyrene carcinogenicity classification
CLASSIFICATION: Carcinogenic to humans. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Under EPA's Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment, benzo[a]pyrene is "carcinogenic to humans" based on strong and consistent evidence in animals and humans.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
There is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of benzo[a]pyrene in experimental animals...Benzo[a]pyrene is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Benzo[a]pyrene occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.2 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 0.2 mg/m³ as Coal tar pitch volatiles (benzene soluble fraction) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 0.1 mg/m³ as Coal tar pitch volatiles (cyclohexane extractable fraction) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| IDLH | NIOSH considers coal tar pitch volatiles to be potential occupational carcinogens. /Coal tar pitch volatiles/ | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
| IDLH | 80 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Benzo[a]pyrene properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Benzo[a]pyrene boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 475 °C (887 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 496 °C (924.8 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 3100 °C (5612 °F) | OSHA |
Benzo[a]pyrene melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 179 °C (354.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| 178.1 °C (352.6 °F) | ICSC | ||
| 181.1 °C (358 °F) | DOE PAC |
Benzo[a]pyrene density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.351 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 1 g/cm³ | CAMEO | ||
| 1.4 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | ICSC |
Benzo[a]pyrene solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in benzene, toluene, xylene, and ether; slightly soluble in alcohol | HSDB | |
| Very soluble in chloroform | HSDB | ||
| In water, 1.62X10-3 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Benzo[a]pyrene vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 5.49e-9 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 1e-8 mmHg | Haz-Map |
Benzo[a]pyrene upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 2719 °F | OSHA |
Benzo[a]pyrene vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 8.7 (air = 1) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Benzo[a]pyrene fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Benzo[a]pyrene fire potential
Flammable, but generally found in such low quantities it is not considered a fire hazard.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Benzo[a]pyrene storage and handling
Benzo[a]pyrene safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from strong oxidants. Store in an area without drain or sewer access. Cool. Dry.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Benzo[a]pyrene storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.[Sigma-Aldrich; Safety Data Sheet for Benzo
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Benzo[a]pyrene incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Strong oxidizing agents.[Sigma-Aldrich; Safety Data Sheet for Benzo
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Benzo[a]pyrene reactivity
BENZO[A]PYRENE undergoes photo-oxidation after irradiation in indoor sunlight or by fluorescent light in organic solvents. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents including various electrophiles, peroxides, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. Oxidized by ozone, chromic acid and chlorinating agents. Readily undergoes nitration and halogenation. Hydrogenation occurs with platinum oxide (NTP, 1992).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Benzo[a]pyrene in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Benzo[a]pyrene — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Benzo[a]pyrene?
The CAS number of Benzo[a]pyrene is 50-32-8. Its EC number is 200-028-5.
What is the chemical formula of Benzo[a]pyrene?
The molecular formula of Benzo[a]pyrene is C20H12 and its molecular weight is 252.3 g/mol.
What does a Benzo[a]pyrene label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Benzo[a]pyrene carries the pictograms Health hazard, Exclamation mark and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Benzo[a]pyrene flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Benzo[a]pyrene no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it.
Is Benzo[a]pyrene a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Benzo[a]pyrene as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350: may cause cancer. IARC places it in Group 1: carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for Benzo[a]pyrene?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Benzo[a]pyrene is 0.2 [mg/m3] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Benzo[a]pyrene?
The boiling point reported for Benzo[a]pyrene is 475 °C (887 °F), at 760 mmHg (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Benzo[a]pyrene?
The melting point reported for Benzo[a]pyrene is 179 °C (354.2 °F) (HSDB).
How should Benzo[a]pyrene be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.[Sigma-Aldrich; Safety Data Sheet for Benzo (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Benzo[a]pyrene
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